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He smiled “No But we can take a bite of each Can’t you re like that? Let’s relive a bit of our childhoods”

It was the most relaxed she’d seen hiht over a large tray with every dessert on a separate plate and lots of cutlery She topped up their drinks, cleared away their other plates, then left them to it

Phoebe picked up her fork as Matteo raised his eyebrows “How do you want to do this? A bite each?”

Phoebe put her fork against her lips “That sounds fair But who gets to go first?”

He srandmother trained me well Ladies first”

Phoebe took a deep breath The tension was finally starting to leave herher fork into the carrot cake with frosting It was delicious

She took a sip of her coffee and sat back in the seat Matteo grinned back and didn’t hesitate, heading straight for the cherry pie “You thought I wasn’t really a pie kind of guy? Well, watch and learn Apple, peach, plum, cherry, I’m not fussy I’ll take them all”

“Does anyone else get to try the cherry pie?” She snagged a little from the side “Hmm Lovely”

She gave another s with the tiredness?”

His eyes widened in surprise He’d just gotten a forkful of chocolate cake He stared at it for a second then nodded “Actually it is Do I really look that bad?”

She shook her head “Of course not Just tired Were you working late? I is on different continents”

He pressed his lips together for a second “Sometimes” He lowered his eyes as he ate the piece of chocolate cake

Phoebe tried the strawberry shortcake “Oh, , this is delicious It’s my favorite”

Matteo looked up “Why don’t you just finish it? Go on”

She shook her head and put her fork down “No, honestly, I couldn’t But—you were right—just being able to take a bite out of each is fabulous” She put both hands on the table “Thank you for this, Matteo I’ this job started The house is just wonderful And I proet the order for the drapes placed The painters start toreed on the colors for every roo soain She couldn’t help it Interior design was the area she was coet started on the job